I'll be honest...I've taken a break from The Common Bond. I didn't mean to do it, it just sort of happened-I think I became overwhelmed with the pain that is associated with so many of these stories.

Most of these families, I don't know personally, but I believe we truly do love them like they are some of our closest friends...and when things don't turn out the way we hope it hurts. I was reminded though, that these families don't get a "time out"...they don't get to take a break, and God never takes a break. If I believe what I put in my little Faith, Hope and Love message...We are graced with LOVE by those He sends to walk this road with us...then it means I don't get to take a break. We are privalaged to be used by Him to show his love to these families that are hurting...how can we take a back seat to that?

But I have and by "taking a break" I've dropped the ball on opportunities to show His love and also for allowing you the opportunities to love these families by walking alongside of them.

Here's the great thing...we can always start over...well, until He calls us home...and so far that hasn't happened...so today I'm starting over. This next week I will have a new family for us to pray for, to walk with, to invest our lives in. If you know of families that we could be praying for please pass their information along. I would love to let others know about it.

I did want to share some news really quick--for those of you that were reading TCB blog last September you probably remember Molly...I am SO EXCITED (okay, if I could do a cartwheel...I would--that's how excited I am) to tell you that Briana and Garrick had a baby girl yesterday, her name is Megan Elizabeth weighing in at 8lbs 6oz. I re-read the posts about Molly and my heart broke all over again, but it also reminded me of why we do what we do...and I'm so glad that we also get to share in this AWESOME news of little miss Megan!

More Prayers for Megan Please

If you get Megan's updates from her caringbridge site then you already know this...but they have found another tumor.

She was complaining of pain in her eye...so they did a scan and found a tumor behind the eye. Since her dad is having to take it easy, her Aunts are taking her to Birmingham for treatment. She started a new kind of chemotherapy yesterday (I believe that's correct)...

I know I keep saying it...but at this point there's really nothing more we can say...just keep praying...tell everyone you know to pray for this awesome girl. She is amazing and it's heartbreaking what this family has endured. We know God is bigger than the diagnosis...bigger than any road block that comes up...He is bigger than cancer.

Also, in the next month or so I will be switching my jewelry site to a new layout and will be launching a new collection line. The jewelry I sell goes to fund The Common Bond.

Thanks for all the support you have given to me and these families!

Quick Updates

OLIVIA CAME HOME!!! I'll try to get some new pictures of her posted here later on.

Megan is doing well...keep this family in your prayers though, Gary-her dad had a heart attack (yes you read that right) last Sunday. He's okay...at home recovering. Please keep lifting this family up.


The Larson's...(Coleman's Family) Keep remembering them as well...if you don't get their updates on Care Pages I recommend you signing up. They truly are an amazing family.

I know this is quick, but I wanted to get this info out there.

Thanks ya'll!

Praying for Megan...

I have some other updates to make in regards to Olivia (excellent progress)...and Coleman's family, but time is of the essense right now (because I have VERY limited of it)...so I want to put this out there for all of you praying for these children.

You may remember a post a while back regarding Megan Brittain...

In a nutshell, they found out the tumor on her spine had grown. She will be having surgery tomorrow morning at 9:00am. Please keep her, the surgeons, her family all in your prayers. I know this is brief...but I really wanted to get it out here for us to start praying.

Visit her caringbridge page at: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/meganbrittain

Thank you for your support of these families...for walking alongside of them.

Tears...

Tears filled with Hope
Posted by Coleman's Mom (Peggy) on their website.

Today the world may have cried a river of tears for a little boy’s life that ended way too soon, but we believe Heaven is REJOYCING over Coleman’s job well done.

Coleman was an amazing child of God and we were so honored to be chosen as his parents.

He left this world at 10:45 last night- he fought HARD until the very end, not wanting to give up, but finally letting go. He was a warrior and a hero our hearts will forever miss. We had the most glorious five years together- a gift we will never forget.

A quick story. :)

One day Coleman heard someone say they were mad at God. He didn’t say a word, but later came to me with this complete look of disbelief on his face and asked, “mommy? did you hear them say they were mad at DOD? WHY would they say that?” He couldn’t even fathom the thought. Then he raised his little eyebrows and said, “well, I hope they don’t say that in PUB-WIC (public)!” and walked away. He knew there were some things he could not change, but HIS faith never wavered.

Lots of people have mentioned their anger toward God …how can He let this happen when so many people have been praying for Coleman? Why didn’t he answer our prayers?

I just can’t be angry at Our God who sent Coleman to us in the first place. Coleman was a child of God, WE were chosen to be his parents- and how blessed we were. Maybe my feelings will change, but like Coleman, I can’t imagine being angry at God. Would we have loved to have had more time with Coleman? YES! I want him back right now, but I know that’s the selfish part of me talking. I know I will hurt more than I can ever imagine in missing him…and I know I will have MANY days of heartache and anger, but my anger is over the fact we live in a world where we can do so much, but still do not have a cure for this horrific disease. Children are paying the price for that. More on that will come-

I guess what I’m saying is I know for a fact, Coleman would NOT want us to be mad at God. He taught us so much in his time here. His lessons will go on for a very long time. He knew where he came from and he knew where he was going. My heart aches for more time, but I’m SO thankful for the time we got with him, and we know we WILL be with him again. God doesn’t always answer our prayers in the way we want him to…HIS ways are not ours, and that’s hard to accept, but true. It doesn’t mean I don’t question it- it’s hard to understand, but one day we WILL know.


Please keep this family in your prayers...there's nothing more I can say.